MAN AT ARMS
Being and Commerce
Friction records
JOSE FRITZ
This bludgeoning raw amalgam of noise, rock and noise rock is made
by only two mortal men. I heard Courtesy call on a free comp and
lost my mind. I was immediately reminded of Destro1, Grand Island,
Giddy Motors, Astoveboat, and Shotmaker and other strong bands in
the genre. But uniquely Man At arms is only two guys. Well two very
angry guys who appear to be very depressed and also secret geniuses
of the lost dystopian lyrical form. Allow me to quote: “Here
is a mint for you pillow, Here is a cake for your urinal, a blanket
for your burial. This is a courtesy call for nothing at all”
There is not a millisecond of melody on this record. Each digital
bit on the CD includes only feedback, pounding rhythm and the bitterest
wailing of suffering.
I’ve met producers who spend their lives in the studio trying
to clean up each guitar note, moving baffles, microphones, changing
cables, and the like. These guys are pros trying to take that click
of a guitar pick on the string out of the note and leave only perfect
tone and sustain. Man At Arms is trying to remove the note and leave
only the atonal texture, impact and vicious intention of the string
behind to stalk and eventually kill you while you are asleep and
defenseless. I have a great respect for that. Fuck you America.
This is what you should be listening to.
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